30 April 2012

With Mother's Day just two weeks away, here is a quick and easy gift idea that's not only pretty but useful too. Just slip a cake of soap into this handy soap sack and use it as you would a loofah mitt.

To make up: Fold soap sack in half. Sew up along the bottom and side seam. Make a twisted cord from the same cotton and thread through the holes at the top of the sack. Insert a cake of soap, draw up cord and tie in a bow.

This little sack took about 2 1/2 hours to knit while I was watching Miss Marple and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries on TV. It's so simple, the perfect little craft to keep fingers busy without having to concentrate on a complicated pattern.

27 April 2012

Online shopping has taken off and it is convenient - until you have a query about your order. There is one rule for online (and phone) orders that will save you time and it may even save you the cost of replacing items - always write down the order number! I jot it in my diary so I can find it quickly, then I print the order confirmation immediately and staple it to the diary page. If there is a problem with the order, it doesn't arrive, or it arrives damaged or if there is any query at all, having that information allows the customer service representative to find the account quickly and easily. It also gives you credibility with customer service when you have all the details at your fingertips when you make your enquiry.

26 April 2012

Mud - it invariably gets tracked into your house and onto your rugs and carpets. If you have pets, you know they can't take their shoes off when they come in on a rainy day! You might lay down a towel for the animals to walk over when they come in, but that is often not enough (and animals can be really sneaky about avoiding the towel).

Kids and adults alike may forget to take off their muddy boots or shoes at the door, or tramp on in and get mud on the carpet before they take off their footwear.

Mud can get on your carpets all year round for all of the above and other reasons. In the winter, it can become particularly bad; the weather tends to be wet with rain, hail and even snow! If you burn firewood in the winter, it can get mud on your carpets and rugs, too.

Having door mats on both sides of the door helps. People routinely wipe their feet on a door mat so with one on the outside and one on the inside, they’ll automatically wipe their shoes twice before stepping onto your clean carpets.

So what is the best way to clean it? Here are some tips.

Let It Dry It's very tempting to jump right in and clean the mud immediately, but it may make things easier in the end if you allow the mud to dry. One thing you can do right away while the mud is wet is scoop up any clumps with an old spoon and paper towels and blot up any moisture with clean rags or even paper towel. Press into the stain to blot, don’t rub; that just spreads the stain and can cause your carpet to “mat” or “felt”. Then, allow the mud to dry.

VacuumOnce the mud has become dry dirt, vacuum the area thoroughly, going over the spots multiple times. Use a full-sized vacuum, not a hand-held one, because you'll need plenty of power to get the dirt up. If you need to, use a dry scrub brush to loosen the dried mud before and while you vacuum.

Stain RemovalIf, after the scooping, drying and vacuuming, there is still a stain, then you need to take more action. If you have a carpet that is not acetate or rayon, you can use a cloth to rub in some rubbing alcohol. Then cover the stain with several layers of paper towels dampened with rubbing alcohol. The paper towels will begin to absorb the stain.

As you see this discoloration happening, replace the paper towels with fresh, alcohol-dampened ones. Make sure you keep the stain and the paper towels damp with the alcohol.

DetergentAnother method to attacking the stain after vacuuming is to use every day dish detergent. Mix two teaspoons of liquid dish detergent with two cups of hot water in the mixing bowl of an electric mixer. Then whip the mixture at high speed until you get thick, rich foam.

Using a sponge, apply this thick foam to the stain and rub it in well, from the outside of the stain towards the centre. Then rinse the sponge and go over the area with warm water. Finally, use clean rags or paper towels to blot the carpet. The stain should be soaked up into the rags as you blot. Keep blotting until the carpet is dry, changing the rag when it becomes stained.

I read once, years ago, that the average family tracks around 3.5kg of dirt into a house every week, but if they get into the habit of taking shoes off at the door, that amount drops down to under 1 kilo! That’s a lot of dirt and potential mud that isn’t coming into the house.

If your family isn’t in the habit of taking shoes off at the door, start training them now. Put a sign up on the door if you must. Make sure there is a spot for them to leave their shoes, or remind them to take them straight to their rooms. Have slippers waiting for them to slip their feet into as soon as their shoes come off.

25 April 2012

ANZAC biscuits are an Australian tradition, but if you don't have the time to make biscuits, this slice does an admirable job and is ready in around 30 minutes. It's a one-bowl, quick mix recipe and it doesn't have the traditional bi-carb soda, so no mixing separately.

This is a soft, chewy version of ANZACs, ideal if you don't like the crunchy biscuits.

Method:Oil a lasagne dish well. Cut lamb or beef into 1cm cubes or brown and drain mince. In a large fry pan heat a little olive oil and fry onion until transparent. Add garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add meat and herbs, mix to combine. Mash potatoes and stir through the meat mixture. Pat the potato mixture into the lasagne dish. Run a fork over the top of the potato to rough up. Brush with beaten egg. Cook in a moderate oven for 25 - 30 minutes until heated through and top is golden brown. Serve warm.

I like to serve this with a green salad and garlic bread on the side and we never have leftovers no matter how hard I try to keep a slice for my lunch the next day.

23 April 2012

Craft is a part of growing up, especially for toddlers and pre-schoolers. Paint, glitter and glue are all messy and a real pain to clean up, especially if you have to use your dining table or the kitchen bench as a craft table.

Make life easier by getting some cheap, plastic shower curtains ($2 shops are a good source of plastic shower curtains). Put one over the table or benchtop before your little ones (or you) start crafting. Put another one on the floor to catch drips and spills. Clean-up is then as simple as folding the sides in and taking it outside to shake or hose down.

17 April 2012

Rainbow cake is a childhood favourite. Birthdays in our house when I was growing were always celebrated with one of Mum's sensational rainbow cakes, three layers high, filled with jam and mock cream and topped with a finger lickin' good frosting.

Mum doesn't make rainbow cakes anymore, that job has fallen to me. As we have a family birthday this week the cake tins are out and I'm getting ready to make a rainbow cake. This is the recipe Mum used and it's the one I use.

This cake looks amazing, kids and grown-ups love it, and your budget will love it - it costs under $3 to make!

Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Grease three 20cm sandwich tins and line the bases with baking paper. Beat eggs, gradually add the castor sugar and then beat 10 minutes. Melt the butter in the hot milk, add the vanilla extract and fold in to the egg mixture, combining thoroughly.

Divide the mixture into three equal portions. Take two tablespoons of mixture from the plain portion, adding one tablespoon to each of the other two portions.

Colour one portion pink with the red food colouring. Stir well to ensure the colour is evenly spread through the batter.

Add the cocoa to the extra hot milk and stir to dissolve. Add to the remaining batter, stirring to combine thoroughly.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake tins. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes until the cake springs back when lightly touched in the centre and has started to shrink from the edge of the tin.

Turn cakes onto cake cooler. When cold, spread the chocolate and pink layers with jam and cream. The chocolate layer is the base, then the pink layer and finally the plain layer. Frost with Seven Minute Frosting (and I have no idea why it's called Seven Minute Frosting, it takes about 20 minutes to make it, but that's what it's called in Mum's recipe book!).

Method:
Combine egg whites, water and sugar in a double boiler (or a large heat-proof bowl) over simmering water. Stir constantly until sugar is dissolved, then beat on high for ten minutes, still over the simmering water. Remove from the heat, add cream of tartar and a few drops of food colouring. Beat until the mixture thickens and will hold it's shape off the beater, about three minutes. Working quickly before the frosting sets, spread the frosting over the cake with a flat knife.

You don’t need to wait for a birthday to make this old favourite, anytime is the right time for rainbow cake.

16 April 2012

One of the things I love about living the Cheapskates way is the challenge to re-purpose things. Sometimes it's things we no longer use, often it's things we have never used but have in the house, just waiting for a purpose.

Over the years I have collected a lot of vintage linens and I love to turn them into things I can use, things that make me smile and make our lives as a family just that little bit more comfortable.

Today I made a scosie from a lovely old tea towel. I have been waiting for the perfect project for this tea towel and the scosie was it.

A scosie is a scone cosy, a simple way to keep fresh scones warm while on the table. After all scones with jam and cream go much better when the scones are warm. You can use new tea towels, but vintage tea towels add a charm that new fabric just doesn't have. Waffle weave or toweling tea towels will keep the scones warm until the last bite. For a prettier scosie use printed cotton or even tulle and lace.

To make a scosie:

Step 1. Use a dinnerplate to trace 2 circles onto your fabric. Cut around the edge of each circle.

Step 2. Finish the raw edge of each circle with bias binding. Add any lace or ric rac embellishments.

Step 3. Use tailors chalk (or a very light pencil) to divide one circle into six wedges. Place the marked circle on top of the second circle. Sew along the lines.

Scosies make a lovely gift, especially if you fill them with scones and present them on a vintage plate.

11 April 2012

An Emergency Fund is an essential part of living the Cheapskates way. Cheapskaters aim to live life debt free, so having a back-up of cash to enable them to survive a financial emergency is important. I used to suggest that three months of total living expenses would be adequate. Since the GFC I have upped that amount to at least six months, preferably twelve months, of total living expenses.
I know it is tempting to put all your spare cash into paying down debt and that is admirable. And I am often asked why I insist on building an Emergency Fund before Cheapskaters are debt free. The answer is simple.

When you put every spare cent you have into debt reduction, you have no buffer for emergencies. That means that if the washing machine stops or the car needs major mechanical repairs or you lose your job you have to resort to credit to survive. And that puts you right back where you started, on the debt-go-round.

If you have faithfully built an Emergency Fund as well as paying down debt you can get a new washing machine or pay for the car repairs or continue to live by using your Emergency Fund AND you'll be able to continue your debt reduction plan.

Building an Emergency fund is simple, everyone can and should do it.

Step 1. Open a new savings account. You should aim to have a minimum of six months total living expenses in this account in case of emergency. Look for a fee free account that pays interest. Most banks have some kind of "loyalty" savings account, find the one that has the best interest rate and lowest fees that suits you.

Step 2. Divert funds. Remember the 10-10-80 plan? The second '10' is the savings - aim to save 10 percent of your income. Have it automatically transferred into your Emergency Fund each pay day. It may take you a week or two to get used to having a few dollars less to spend each pay, but it won't be long and you won't miss it at all. If you find you do, then learn to make do with what you have. Making a few tiny budgetary adjustments, such as driving a little less or making your cappuccino at home may seem inconsequential on their own but put them all together and they make a big difference.

Step 3. Pat yourself on the back. Check your savings a few times a year to make sure they are growing at an adequate rate and rest easy knowing you will be able to cope with a financial emergency without resorting to credit or getting into debt.

10 April 2012

Hannah and I have been sick this weekend. Not desperately ill, just annoyingly sick enough to have drippy noses, pathetic coughs and some aches and pains. And just sick enough to lose our sense of taste - no Easter chocolate for us this weekend, it just didn't taste right.

Instead we both wanted soup, and lots of it. Grandma's chicken soup to be exact. I don't know what it is about chicken soup, it's renowned around the world for it's healing properties.

Grandma's chicken soup really is chicken soup for the soul - and the body. Long revered for it's healing properties, chicken soup is the best cold and flu treatment available. And you can make it right in your own kitchen, for just a couple of dollars.

And if you're not sick, even better. You'll really enjoy the warming flavours of this delectable dish.

Method:1. Put a small quantity of each vegetable aside. Put the remaining vegetables into a large pot, add the parsley, black peppercorns and the bay leaf.

2. Put the whole chicken into the pot and add the salt. Add just enough water to cover the chicken. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 40 minutes. Remove from heat
And allow to come back to room temperature.

Put a dinner plate over the chicken and vegetables to hold them down in the broth.

3. Put the whole pot into the fridge. When the fat hardens, skim it off with a spoon.

4. Take the chicken out of the pot and pull it apart. Put the meat on a plate and set asisde. Put the skin, bones and fat back into the pot and bring to the boil. Simmer for 1 hour.

5. Cut the cooked chicken meat into bite sized pieces.

6. Strain the contents of the pot. Keep the liquid but add the vegetables, bones etc to your dog's dinner (take out the bones first) or to the compost.

7. Just before you are ready to eat, simmer the reserved vegetables and liquid for about 5 minutes then add the cooked chicken.

8. Warm the soup through and serve.

Note: This recipe costs around $1.20 per serve. You can cut the cost to just 40 cents per serve by using chicken frames (from the deli or butcher) and one chicken breast fillet in place of the whole chicken.

09 April 2012

This is a very cute baby hat that can be worked quickly. I made the first two in around 2 1/2 hours while I was chatting to our visitors this weekend. Then my gorgeous daughter saw them and decided she would like one so with a simple change in yarn and a few extra increase rounds I made her one too.

The instructions are for a baby hat. The size is newborn - 3 months, and coming up to winter newborns will need a warm hat to keep their little heads and ears warm and toasty.

Use 4 ply baby wool or bamboo and a 4.5mm crochet hook and is worked in simple single crochet (sc). This little hat is worked in the round so there are no seams to sew up.

To start: ch 3. Join with a sl st into the 1st ch.

1st round: Work 10 sc into the circle. It will be tight, the circle is very small.

2nd round: Work 1sc into each stitch - 10sc

3rd round: *Work 1sc into first stitch, 2sc into next stich. Repeat from * to end - 20 sc

4th round: Work 1sc into each stitch - 20 sc

5th round: *Work 1sc into first two stitches, 2sc into third stitch. Repeat from * to end - 30 sc

6th round: Work 1sc into each stitch - 30 sc

7th round: *Work 1 sc into first three stitches, 2 sc into fourth stitch. Repeat from * to end - 40 sc

8th round: Work 1 sc into each stitch - 40 sc

9th round: *Work 1sc into first four stitches, 2 sc into fifth stitch. Repeat from * to end - 50 sc

10th round: Work 1 sc into each stitch - 50 sc

11th round: *Work 1 sc into first five stitches, 2 sc into sixth stitch. Repeat from * to end - 60 sc

12th round: Work 1 sc into each stitch - 60 sc.

Repeat 12th round until work measures approximately 15cm from beginning.

Tie off end. Weave in yarn ends.

Turn up edge to make brim.

Sc: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.

To make a bigger hat, simply keep increasing every second round, following the increase pattern, until the hat is the size you want.

05 April 2012

I am sure by now you all know that simple white vinegar is a vey powerful cleaner, especially in the bathroom. But occasionally there are stains that are stubborn and they require a little more oomph in the cleaning department.

This simple toilet bowl cleaner will shift those stains so you won't need to resort to buying expensive, smelly commercial products.

Mix together 1 cup borax (in the cleaning aisle of your supermarket) and 1 cup of white vinegar. Add 10 drops of eucalyptus or tea-tree oil. Now if you have an empty bottle of toilet bowl cleaner, the type with the neck on it, carefully pry the tip off, rinse it well and pour this mixture into it. If you don't have one, use a spray bottle. If you use a spray bottle, don't forget to label it!

04 April 2012

I looked after my niece today, she's 8 years old and full of beans, so finding things to keep her occupied was essential.

She came for the day so Hannah could help her tie-dye some tights, shoes and shoe laces. This is something she's been waiting for since the Christmas holidays. So first stop Spotlight to pick up the dyes, then home to do the rinsing, tying and dyeing of said tights, shoes and shoe laces.

They look really good, definitely bring back memories of summer 1972, purple tie-dyed t-shirts and embroidered jeans were all the rage. It seems fashion really does just go round and round and round - does that mean we need to watch out for shoulder pads and pencil skirts in the next few years?

Once the tie-dying was finished and cleaned up, we wandered around the garden. Boogsie inspected all the plants, and wanted to know why the marigolds were in between the different veggies while I pulled weeds. She watered the lettuce and we picked some strawberries and chased off some cabbage moths (they seem to be in plague proportions at the moment) and then she wanted to know what we were going to do next.

So, in the interests of filling in time and giving my family an Easter treat we made hot cross buns.
It wouldn’t Easter without hot cross buns, but have you seen the price of them! Yowie, they certainly are a treat.

I used the bread maker to make the dough, but it can be made just as easily by hand. Well, maybe not quite as easily, you still have the kneading to do, but it keeps the kids busy for 10 minutes or so.

Here's my recipe - it's been tweaked over the years from the recipe I made when I first learned to make bread, about - no, just too many years ago to worry about. It works, it's easy and the buns taste great.

Method:
Dissolve the yeast and the sugar in the 1/4 cup warm water and let it sit until it becomes frothy, about 10 minutes.

Add the flour, mixed fruit, mixed spice, oil and water to the bowl of your bread maker. Add the yeast mixture. Set to the dough setting.

To make the rolls, gently divide the dough into 12 pieces. Gently roll each piece into a ball. Place on an oiled baking sheet, with each roll just touching the next. Cut a cross into the top of each bun. Sit in a warm spot to allow the rolls to rise until double in size, about 30 minutes. Bake in a 175 degree oven for 20 - 25 minutes until they sound hollow when tapped. Glaze while hot.

To make the glaze:
Combine half a cup of white sugar and half a cup of water in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Turn heat up and bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Brush the top and sides of each bun when they are cooked.

You'd think a dozen hot cross buns would've worn her out, it sure did me. But no, 8 year olds have a lot of stamina so we also made 2 dozen little gingerbread men, just because we like gingerbread men and two cakes, one chocolate and one coconut.

By then I was well and truly stonkered, so it was a quick kitchen clean up and reading time. Hannah found some Pony Club books so we all settled down to relax and read for a while. By which time her mum arrived to take her home.

I'd forgotten how excited little girls get when they have things to show their mummy. She was so excited she kept tripping over words and jumping up and sitting down. Until it was time to go and she was tired. Her little eyes were big and her little face was flushed and she had had a very big day, and was glad to go home.

And I was glad to put my feet up for a few minutes with a longed for cuppa.

Easier said than done, right? Avoiding frivolous spending is probably the number one way to save some money but that is one of the toughest things to do. If you have money, why not spend it? Because you don't need another CD or DVD and you definitely don’t need another pair of shoes you probably will never wear in the first place. If you find it nearly impossible to avoid frivolous spending like so many people do, work on leaving your cash and cards at home. Take just as much money as you need to buy the things that you went out for in the first place and avoid wandering around the store. Who cares if there is a sale? That is what they want you to do—break the bank for them. Don't give the big stores the pleasure and put that money in the bank!

03 April 2012

Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Grease and line a loaf tin. Cream butter, 1 cup of sugar and rind of 2 lemons. Add eggs one at a time, beating well between additions. Add half the flour and half the milk and stir to combine. Add remaining flour and milk, beating well. Spoon into baking paper lined loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. While cake is baking, make the syrup. Combine remaining half a cup of sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Slowly bring to a simmer over a low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Allow to simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat. When cake is cooked, remove from oven. Use a skewer to poke holes in top of cake. Pour syrup over hot cake in tin. Allow to cool in the tin.

02 April 2012

These are very cute, very quick and very cheap because they use up scraps of wool. You don't need to be an experienced knitter to whip up these cute little egg cosies, they are easy enough for beginners.

Breakfast on Easter Sunday (or any day for that matter) will be special when you present the boiled eggs with their hats on.

You will need:
4mm knitting needles
8 ply yarn - only a small amount is needed, so scraps are ideal
Wool needle to sew in the ends

These instructions are for a single colour cosy. You can work the cosy in stripes in any combination you like. The cosy in the picture is done in green and purple, my niece's favourite colours, ready for her Easter egg.

To make your egg hat:
Cast on 34 stitches
Knit 8 rows k1, p1 rib
Knit 8 rows stocking stitch
Next row: Purl
K1, *K6, K2 together - repeat from * to end
Purl
K1 *K5, K2 together - repeat from * to end
Purl
K1 *K4, K2 together - repeat from * to end
Purl
K1 *K3, K2 together - repeat from * to end
Purl
K1, *K2, K2 together - repeat from * to end
Purl
K1, *K1, K2 together - repeat from * to end
Purl
*K2 together - repeat from * to end
Purl
Repeat last two rows until you have no stitches left.
Tie off.
With right sides together, stitch centre seam.
Turn to right side, fold up ribbed band.

These little hats are really quick to knit, I did this one in about an hour! I was even able to watch a show I had recorded over the weekend while I knitted. You can't get much easier than that.

They really are so quick and easy I am going to knit some up in football colours for the boys and in blues for Hannah and surprise them on Easter Sunday too. It's a good thing they don't read my blog, isn't it :)

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Welcome!

If this is your first visit, welcome! If you're a regular visitor, welcome back.

This is my record of the daily challenges the Armstrong family faces as we live life the Cheapskates way - debt free, cashed up and laughing - and try to stay that way.

Here I talk about the little things I do that save us a lot of money and the bigger things that may only save a small amount. I share the things that work for us and the things that don't. I say it as I see it, so if I try something and think it's a dud, I'll tell you. And if I try something and it works, I'll share it with you.

You'll get an insight into a very frugal family living a very comfortable 21st Century lifestyle and I hope it encourages and inspires you as you make your journey to living life the Cheapskates way.